maple tree

The old maple tree at the east side of Oak Hill Cottage lost a major branch in the windstorm three weeks ago. It was taken down entirely today. Ironically the Board had recently debated taking the tree down because of an old fissure in the main trunk that made it appear dangerous. The windstorm settled that debate.

oak tree

A 1974 interview with a granddaughter of Dr. Johannes Jones confirmed that Oak Hill was named, as you might suspect, for a giant oak tree that stood close to the west side of the house; too close, resulting in damage to the foundation and wall. The house in fact was built beside the tree which was already a giant, judging from the earliest pictures of Oak Hill Cottage. The above photo from about 1898 shows it as a dead snag, and in a later photo taken 10 to 20 years after, it is a stump, and the west side yard which was dark in earlier photos has become sunny.